Jesus told a lot of stories using agricultural references to make His points so that people could easily relate.
He talked about soil.
He talked about planting seeds.
He talked about watering.
He talked about being rooted.
He talked about pruning.
He talked about harvesting.
We talk a lot about planting seeds into the lives of other people. The words we use, the actions we take to show how we really feel about someone or what we think they’re worth.
Have you ever given thought to what we plant into our own lives?
Do we scatter healthy thoughts like these into ourselves?
**Words of bravery and strength whispered under our breath when we feel weak
**Taking time to care for and love ourselves…spending time alone or with friends, getting that pedicure, lifting those weights, reading a good book, getting good sleep
**Are we quick to forgive ourselves when we mess things up, extending the same grace to ourselves that we would give to our loved ones?
**Seeds of “You can do this!”?
**Words of kindness when we look in the mirror and don’t like what we see…words like “beautiful”, “able”, “strong”, “work in progress”, “capable”
Or
**Do we punish ourselves with words like “what’s wrong with me?”
**Do we dwell on the past and let it stunt our spiritual growth?
**Have we let seeds of bitterness take root and contaminate the soil of our soul?
**Do we look in the mirror or at the scale and chastise ourselves (me) for enjoying an ice cream with our child?
We have to be intentional with what we plant in our hearts. If the Holy Spirit lives there, He deserves the best, and He only wants the best for you and me.
I have this on my bulletin board in my office.
When my work is going slow or my pants are feeling too tight or I’ve blown it with one of my children or I’m wrecked with worry over a situation I can’t control…I’m working on planting good seed into my own soil.
We have to be intentional.
Storms will come and force us to react. Let’s protect the good seeds we’ve planted. Fight for them. Let’s not allow our temporary circumstances to rip our seeds of truth from the soil of our souls.
People will come and try to trample on that which we’ve planted. We can post a “no trespassing” sign.
Drought will creep in. Let’s recognize it quickly and reach back for the living water which is God’s word.
Bad seed can be thrown on us by others. It can take root before we’ve realized it’s there. Get out the hoe and get that out before its roots go too deep!
We have to be patient with ourselves.
Sometimes…some dreams…some desperate prayers…they need to work underground before they can burst forth.
A wounded heart may take some time before it is healed.
Bad self-esteem can steer us wrong more times than we’d like to admit before that seed has been removed.
The soil of our heart may need tending to. Ten good seeds for every one bad.
We have to be hopeful.
We have a Master Gardner who knows exactly when those seeds will sprout. He tells us in His word how to care for what has been planted inside of us.
He won’t let any good seed go to waste, we can count on that.
His words are the good seed. We can’t rely on people for this. Our worth, our purpose, our courage, it all comes from Him. All of it!
“…my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11
That which has been planted through the leading of the Word will eventually bloom. It will eventually show itself. And, it will be good.
Very good.
So let’s be kind to ourselves. Let’s remind each other to be kind to ourselves girls! Let’s remember whose we are and that He thinks the world of us. We don’t like seeing our own children beating themselves up when they’re feeling a little low, so let’s not do it to ourselves.
We are children of The Most High, daughters of the King chosen before the beginning of time to come into the family of God!
Let that sink in…
Reflect and Respond:
*What are some ways you can plant “good seed” into your own life? Here are two good seeds to get you started.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us…”
I John 3:16a
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
*What are some bad seeds that were scattered into your life that resulted in something beautiful?
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:20
Simple Faith 